Method of aerial advertising



Nov. 1, 1938. N. N. SHORB METHOD OF AERIAL ADVERTISING Filed April 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNE Y.

N. N. SHORE METHOD OF AERIAL ADVERTISING Filed April 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

7ZW$JM ATTORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to aerial advertising and particularly to a novel method for effectively displaying an aerial sign.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel method of effectively displaying an aerial sign, which consists in the successive releasing and recovering in mid-air of an aerial sign suspended from a parachute.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved apparatusior releasing a parachute having an aerial sign suspended therefrom, and for recovering it in mid-air and again releasing it.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claims, or obvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. For the purposes of this application I- have elected to show herein certain forms: and details of apparatus for use in thesuccessive recovering and dropping in mid-air of a parachute having an aerial sign suspended therefrom; it is understood, however, that the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is for purposes of illustration only; and that therefore it is not to be regardedas exhaustive of the variations of the invention, nor isit to be given any interpretation such as might have the effect of limiting the claims, short of the true and most comprehensive scope of the invention in the art.

. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a parachute having a' sign connected thereto, laid out on the ground before the take-oil; showing the relative position of the apparatus used to release and recover the parachute and the sign in mid-air;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the aerial sign suspended in mid-air, showing the recovering appa ratus in position for a pick up;

Fig. 2A is a. side elevation of the parachute in an open position and suspended in mid-air, showing also the means for allowing the parachute to be turned inside out upon its being picked up in mid-air;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of a part of the device used to release and recover the parachute and aerial sign in mid-air, showing the hooks withdrawn and the jaws'of the cable holding tongs in closed positions;

Fig. 4 is a similar viewof the entire device showing the hooks extended and in position for the pick up of the parachute and aerial sign Fig. 5 is a fragmentary part of the same device, showing the position of certain parts thereof after the hooks have been moved to a position whereby the recovered parachute and aerial sign are again released; and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary part of the same device, showing the position of the hooks after being released.

Referring to the drawings the numeral I desig- I nates the spaced flexible letters, characters or figures of an aerial sign which are suitably positioned with respect to one another and are secured to a number of cords 2 in the usual manner. The letters or characters of the sign are arranged preferably in vertical order with trans verse rigid members 3 being secured to the cords 2 at certain intervals so as to prevent the folding or creasing of the letters. If it is so desired an object or group of objects may constitute the advertising matter to be displayed instead of the aerial sign. Suspended from the lower end of the sign are a pair of spaced weight members 4 which are joined together by a cord 5. A laterally disposed cord 6, secured to: and extending the length of the sign, is fastened to the uppermost of the weight members 4, the said cord serving to support the greater part of the signs-weight. The cords 3 and 6 are secured at their upper ends to a ring 1 which in turn is suspended from a line 8 that extends through a circular member 9, a block ill, a globular object it and the top ring R2 of a parachute l3. The line B-is secured rigidly to the block ill, but slidably extends through 9, II and I2. The upper end of the line 8 is fastened to a securing ring 14 whichis normally grasped by the tongs E5 of a parachute releasing and recovering device It. If it is so desired the aerial sign may be provided with one or more laterally disposed pennants ll which is held in an unfurled position by any suitable means such as by a rigid bar l8 and one or more cords IS. The parachute I3 is provided with the usual shroud lines which are secured to the globular object I]. The globular object ll is connected to the circular member 9 by a plurality of resilient cords 2| which slidably extend through the block Ill and are sufficiently flexible to permit the said object to move for a considerable distance away from the said block after the circularmember is pulled into engagement with the latter. If it is so desired a suitable structure 22 having flexible members 23 may be interposed between the parachutes top ring 12 and the securing ring M for the purposes of taking up the shock incident to the take off. The upper end of the parachute releasing and recovering device. i6 is secured to a towing cable 24 which is fastened to a rotarydrum 25 mounted the airplane releases a sleeve 26. The sleeve 26 normally encircles the cable 24 and is attached to a tapered sock or air cone 26 which by reason of the resistance it offers to the air, carries the said sleeve down the cable24 and into engagement 7 with releasing mechanism embodied in the device Hi. The sleeve 26 is provided with two or more axially aligned composite members 21 which are beveled at their ends and are fastened to outwardly disposed pins 28 that enter recessed projections 29 on the said sleeve. Each pin 28 is in engagement with a. spring 36 which permits the members 27 to be moved outwardly upon their engaging with the tapered end of an axially disposed elongated b-ar 3i constituting the core or central part of the device l6. One end of the bar 3! is secured to the towing cable 24 while its opposite end is secured as by a bolt 32 to an extension 33 on which is'pivotally mounted the tongs i 5. The bolt 32 also rigidly secures the bar 3| and its extension 33 to an elongated tubular member 34, within which they are both positioned.

Pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on a spider 35 or other suitable structure rigidly secured to the tubular member 34are a plurality of spaced hooks 36, the outwardly disposed endsof which are adapted to project through slots 31 provided in a movable elongated casing 38. The casing 38 is preferably provided at its ends with axial openings of a size capable of accommodating the tubular member 34. The end of the casing nearest the tongs i5, is provided with an inwardly protruding annular flange 39 which slidably engages with the tubular member 34. Also slidably engaging with the tubular member is a web structure 46 which is secured to and extends inwardly from the wall of the casing and is located between the hub of the spider 35 and a ring 4! secured to the tubular member 34 by the bolt 32. A spiral spring 42 encircling the tubular member 34 and having its ends engaging with the stationary ring 4i and the web structure ofthe casing 38, normally exerts an upward pressure upon the casing, sufiicient, when the latter is released, to move the same upwardly, whereby the outwardly disposed ends of the hooks 36 may be released from retracted positions inside the casing, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Slidably mounted on the tubular member 34 is a ring 42a which is in engagement with an inwardly disposed extension 36' on each of the hooks 36, and a spiral spring 43 having its ends bearing against the stationary hub of the spider 35 and the said ring 7 42a exerts sufiicient pressure upon the latter to cause the hooks to move about their pivots in such a manner that their outwardly disposed ends project through the slots 3? when the'casing 38 is moved to a position whereby the said hooks are released, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The sleeve 26, after being released by the operator, moves downwardlyover the cable 24 and enters the axial opening in the upper end of the casing 38, whereupon the said sleeve strikes against a slidabl e collar 44 mounted on the tubular member 34. Pivotally secured to the collar 44 are one or more links 45 which are also pivotally connected to hell cranks 46, the latter. being pivotally secured between their ends to a ring 41 or other means welded to the tubular member 34. The free end of each of the bell cranks normally engages with an inwardly disposed projection 48 on the easing 38 (as shown in Fig. 3) thereby maintaining the said casing in a position whereby the tongs l 5 are closed by their being engaged by the lower end of the casing, and the hooks 36 are held in retracted positions. A spiral spring 49 engaging with the ring 41 and the collar 44 normally holds the collar in a position whereby the free ends of the bell cranks 46 engage with the projections 48. The impact of the sleeve 26 against the collar 44 causes the latter to be carried to a position whereby the bell cranks 46 are moved out of engagement with the projections 48 on the casing 38, thereby allowing the spiral spring 42 to move the casing upwardly with respect to the tubular member 34 and the spider 35 so that the hooks 36 are free to move outwardly through the slots 31. As the casing is moved upwardly the lower end thereof is disengaged from the tongs l5, and by the action of an internally disposed spring or other suitable means (not shown on the drawings) the said tongs are, automatically opened. The opening of the tongs l5 releases the ring l4 secured at the top side of the parachute, thereby allowing the latter, together with the aerial sign, to drop downwardly. The parachute automatically opens and slowly descends with the aerial sign effectively displayed in a position beneath it. After the parachute and aerial sign have dropped to what the airplane operator considers a proper height for the pick up or recovery, he deploys his airplane into a position whereby the releasing and recovering device It is carried into engagement with the cord 5 positioned between the weight members 4 which are suspended from the aerial sign. The sock 26, connected through the sleeve 26 to the device l6, assists in a material way the controlling of the said device during the recovery of the sign and parachute in mid-air.

After one or more of the hooks 36 of the device "5 engage with the cord 5, the parachute I 3 is carried by the towing airplane into a position whereby it offers considerable resistance to the forward movement of said airplane. The resistance offered by the surrounding air to the forward movement of the then towed parachute is so great that it turns inside out. As it commences to turn inside outthe shroud lines 26 and the globular object II are carried rearwardly. The circular member 9 being connected by the resilient cords 2| to the globular object H is carried into engagement with the block Ill. The resiliency of the cords 2| and the stretching thereof permits the globular object to slide even farther to the rear over the line 8, thereby allowing the parachute to turn completely inside out, thereby assuming a position in which it oifers but a minimum amount ward movement of the airplane. After the aerial sign and the parachute have again been towed to a proper height for the dropping thereof, the operator releases a second and smaller sleeve 50 to which is connected a tapered sock or air cone 5|, the said sock 5| thereupon carrying the sleeve 56 down the towing cable 24 to the device I6. The sleeve 56 enters the larger sleeve 26, (Fig. 5) and isguided by the beveledends of the members of resistance to the for- 21 into a position whereby it readily, and without losing any appreciable amount of its momentum, moves into a position encircling the bar 3 I. Slidably mounted on the upper end of the bar 3|, inside the tubular member 34, is a tube 52 having its lower end provided with a beveled surface which normally engages with a plurality of tapered spring pressed pins 53 projecting inwardly through holes in the said tubular member. The pins 53 and their associated springs, are positioned in an annular block 54 which is slidably mounted on the tubular member 34. The pins 53 extending through the holes in the tubular member normally hold the block 54 in a position whereby it engages with the inwardly disposed extensions 36' of the hooks 35, thereby preventing them from being moved out of their upwardly inclined positions when the cord 5 is engaged during the pick up. When the small sleeve 50 strikes against the tube 52 the latter is actuated in a downward direction to a position where its beveled end forces the pins 53 outwardly. The continued outward movement of the pins is effected by their tapered end portions engaging with the edges of the holes in the tubular member 34 through which they normally project. Upon the said pins 53 assuming positions in which their ends are entirely free of the holes in the tubular member 34, the block 54 is free to be moved in an upward direction by the pressure then being exerted against it by the extensions 36' of the hooks 35. The spring 43 pressing the ring 42a upwardly causes the latter to engage with the block 54 and also assist in its upward movement. As the block 54 is thus moved in an upward direction, the hooks 36 being pulled downwardly by the weight of the aerial sign and parachute then being towed, turn about their pivots and assume downwardly inclined positions, as illus-- trated in Fig. 6. The positioning of the hooks in downwardly inclined positions permits the cord 5 to slide from the particular hook or hooks then holding it, thereby allowing the parachute to open and slowly descend with the aerial sign preceding it, as before. The weight of the globular object I l, and certain other parts of the apparatus exerting a downward pull on the shroud lines 20, readily cause the parachute to assume an open, supporting position, as'shown in Fig. 2.

As soon as the block 54 is moved upwardly by the pressure exerted against it by the hooks, a spring pressed catch member 55 attached to the tubular member 34 is engaged and pressed inwardly to a point whereby it is freed from a slidable ring 55 mounted on the said tubular member. .The slidable ring 55 engages with one end of a normally compressed strong. spiral spring 51 which encircles the tubular member 34 and is positioned with its opposite end in engagement with a collar 58 fixed to the said tubular member. When the slidable ring 55 is no longer held upwardly by the catch member 55 engaging therewith, the spiral spring 51 forces the same downwardly into engagement with the block 54, thereby causing the latter to also be moved downwardly into engagement with the extensions 35 of the hooks 36. The hooks are thereupon moved about their pivots to upwardly inclined positions in which they may again engage with the cord 5 during the second recovery or pick up of the parachute and aerial sign. The movement of the block 54 in a downward direction by the spring 51 brings the pins 53 again into-registry with their holes in the tubular member 34, thereby holding the block in position whereby the hooks are maintained in upwardly inclined positions. The second and final pick up in mid-air may take place in the same manner as heretofore described. After the airplaine has been flown into a position near the landing field, following the second and final pick up of the parachute and aerial sign, the drum 25 is rotated so as to unreel and finally detach the cable 24 before the airplane makes its landing.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A method of aerial advertising comprising carrying a parachute having advertising material suspended therefrom to a point well above the earths surface, releasing the parachute to permit the advertising material to be displayed in mid air while the parachute descends, and recovering the parachute and advertising material in mid-air before they reach the earths surface.

2. A method of aerial advertising comprising carrying a parachute having advertising matter suspended therefrom to a point well above the earths surface, releasin the parachute to permit the advertising matter to be displayed in mid-air while the parachute descends, recovering by means of an airplane the parachute and advertising matter in mid-air before they reach the earths surface, again carrying the parachute and the advertising matter to a point higher than they were when recovered, and again releasing the parachute to permit the advertising matter to be displayed in mid-air While the parachute descends.

3. A method of aerial advertising comprising carrying a parachute having advertising matter and weights suspended therefrom to a point well above the earths surface, releasing the parachute to permit the advertising matter to be displayed in mid-air while the parachute descends, recovering the parachute, advertising matter and weights in mid-air before they reach the earths surface, again carrying the parachute, the advertising matter and the weights to a point higher than they were when recovered, again releasing the parachute to permit the advertising matter to be displayed in mid-air while the parachute descends, and again recovering the parachute, advertising matter and weights in mid-air before they reach the earthssurface.

4. In the method of aerial advertising, the steps which include dropping from a point well above the earths surface an aerial sign or object having means associated therewith for retarding its descent, and recovering the said sign or object in mid-air before it reaches the earths surface.

5. In the method of aerial advertising, the steps which include dropping from a point well above the earths surface an aerial sign or object having means associated therewith for retarding its descent, and recovering the said sign or object in mid-air before it has reached the earths surface, carrying the sign or object to a point higher than it was when recovered; and again dropping said sign or object to permit its free descent.

6. In the method of aerial advertising, the steps including towing to an altitude well above the earths surface a folded parachute having an aerial sign suspended therefrom, releasing the parachute and aerial sign to permit the opening of the parachute and the slow descent of the aerial sign, and recovering the parachute and aerial sign in mid-air before it has reached the earths surface.

NORBERT N. SHORB. 

